Track-bound vehicle having a sensor device

ABSTRACT

A track-bound vehicle has a first and a second car coupled to one another and at least one sensor device for monitoring a region between the two coupled cars. In order to allow particularly reliable monitoring of the region between the two coupled cars, the at least one sensor device is an optical sensor system having at least one optical transmitter on the side of the first car directed at the region to be monitored and at least one optical receiver on the side of the second car. The sensor is implemented for outputting a detection signal if the light path between the at least one optical transmitter and the at least one optical receiver is interrupted.

The invention relates to a track-bound vehicle having a first car and a second car which are coupled to one another, and having at least one sensor device for monitoring an area between the two coupled cars.

In track-bound vehicles, i.e. for example in rail vehicles, magnetic levitation railways or else track-bound trains with rubber tires, there may be a risk, when the track-bound vehicle has a plurality of cars which are coupled to one another, that a person falls down into the area between two coupled cars, for example while the vehicle is stopped at a station or at a stopping point. Visually impaired persons or persons intoxicated with alcohol are particularly at risk here, while, on the other hand, a person may, for example, also fall in such a way due to overcrowding on the platform. In such a case, in order to avoid the person who has fallen being put in danger by, for example, the track-bound vehicle starting, automated monitoring of the area between coupled cars of a track-bound vehicle is desirable.

A track-bound vehicle of the type mentioned at the beginning is known from German Utility Model DE 201 19 009 U1. Said document describes a monitoring system for monitoring the intermediate spaces between cars of a train which are coupled to one another, wherein obstacles in the area between the cars can be detected by means of ultrasonic sensors. In this context, the ultrasonic sensors which operate according to a reflection principle are arranged above the coupling between the cars in order to permit persons who are present without authorization on the buffers in the coupling area between the cars to be sensed.

In track-bound vehicles, dynamic displacements of the car bodies of the cars which are coupled to one another may occur with respect to one another, usually also in the stationary state of the vehicle. It is therefore possible for such displacements to be caused, for example, by passengers getting in and out, which causes the respective car body to rock on the airsprings. During corresponding rocking movements there is the risk that, owing to the method of functioning of the ultrasonic sensors which are used, the functional capability of the known monitoring device could be adversely affected, which as a rule would generally seem to lead, in particular, to comparatively frequent incorrect triggering. Furthermore, the ultrasonic sensors which are used would also seem to be comparatively prone to faults when the track-bound vehicle stops in the area of a bend. Generally, the effort involved in adjusting an ultrasound-based sensor device to the area between two cars which are coupled to one another for all the operating conditions which occur in practice should not be underestimated.

The present invention is based on the object of specifying a track-bound vehicle having a first car and a second car which are coupled to one another, and having at least one sensor device for monitoring an area between the two coupled cars, which permits particularly reliable monitoring of the area between the two coupled cars.

This object is achieved according to the invention by means of a track-bound vehicle having a first car and a second car which are coupled to one another, and having at least one sensor device for monitoring an area between the two coupled cars, wherein the at least one sensor device is an optical sensor system which has, on the first car, at least one optical transmitter which is aligned with the area to be monitored, and has, on the second car, at least one optical receiver, and is designed to output a detection signal when the light path between the at least one optical transmitter and the at least one optical receiver is interrupted.

The track-bound vehicle according to the invention is advantageous since it has an optical sensor system which operates according to a transmitter/receiver principle. For this purpose, the optical sensor system comprises, on the first car, at least one optical transmitter which is aligned with the area to be monitored, and comprises, on the second car, at least one optical receiver. The optical sensor system is preferably aligned here in such a way that the light path runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the track-bound vehicle. The optical sensor system is designed to output a detection signal if the light path between the at least one optical transmitter and the at least one optical receiver is interrupted. In this context, within the scope of the present invention, an interruption of the light path between the at least one optical transmitter and the at least one optical receiver, which is, under certain circumstances, only a partial interruption above a threshold, is referred to as an interruption.

The optical sensor system may be designed either in the form of an individual photoelectric barrier or else in the form of a light curtain. In the latter case, the detection signal is preferably already triggered when the light path to one of the optical receivers is interrupted. As an alternative to this, in the case of an optical sensor system in the form of a light curtain, the detection signal may, for example, not be triggered until the light path or the light paths to two adjacent optical receivers is/are interrupted. As a result, incorrect triggering, for example owing to cigarette butts which have been thrown into the monitored area, is advantageously reduced or avoided.

The use of an optical sensor system of the specified type is advantageous since such a system is comparatively robust with respect to rocking of the two cars of the track-guided vehicle. For example, in the case of the use of optical transmitters with an irradiation angle of +/−10° and an assumed minimum distance between the respective optical transmitter and the respective optical receiver of 95 cm, a light cone with a base surface diameter of approximately 33.5 cm can be obtained computationally in the area of the optical receiver. As a result, the optical receivers still detect the light irradiated by the respective optical transmitter even when there is a considerable horizontal or vertical offset between the two coupled cars with respect to one another. When there is a relatively large distance between the respective optical transmitter and the respective optical receiver, the base surface diameter of the light cone also increases correspondingly. As a result, incorrect triggering is advantageously avoided or at least reduced by the use of a transmitter/receiver principle.

The use of an optical sensor system is also advantageous to the effect that it avoids possible problems in terms of the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the sensor device.

In order to achieve the best possible interference suppression, the at least one optical sensor can emit modulated light, as a result of which at the respective optical receiver it is possible to carry out verification of the respective optical transmitter as the source of the received light.

It has become apparent that optical sensor systems are surprisingly insensitive to adverse effects due to soiling, with the result that reliable operation of the optical sensor system is ensured even under the rough conditions of use outside the track-bound vehicle. Furthermore, there is the advantage that corresponding optical sensor systems are available comparatively cost-effectively in a form which is suitable for railway applications.

It is to be noted that the track-bound vehicle according to the invention can, of course, also have more than two cars which are coupled to one another. In this case, in each case all the areas between coupled cars of the track-bound vehicle are preferably monitored in the way described above. However, it is basically conceivable, even in the case of a vehicle with multiple cars, that monitoring is not carried out for all the areas between the cars. This may be the case, for example, if individual cars of the coupled cars are technically not equipped, or not yet equipped, for corresponding monitoring.

The track-bound vehicle according to the invention is preferably developed in such a way that in terms of their mounting height the at least one optical transmitter and the at least one optical receiver are each arranged underneath the car body of the respective car. This is advantageous since, owing to the comparatively low mounting height of the at least one optical transmitter and of the at least one optical receiver, the monitoring usually takes place in a spatial area below the edge of the platform. This advantageously makes it more difficult for passengers on the platform to tamper with the optical sensor system. In a fundamental difference from the sensor device which is known from DE 201 19 009 U1, monitoring of the area above the coupling is therefore intentionally dispensed with here, with the result that a person who is located on the coupling generally will not be detected. The track-bound vehicle according to the invention therefore preferably serves less to protect such persons who deliberately enter the area between the cars but rather to protect such persons who have entered the monitored area owing to an accident or in error.

Basically, the optical sensor system can be implemented using light of any desired wavelength which is emitted by the at least one optical transmitter. According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the track-bound vehicle according to the invention, the at least one optical sensor system is an infrared sensor system. This provides, in particular, the advantage that the light path remains invisible to the human eye, and therefore the probability of attempts at tampering or disruption are reduced.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, the track-bound vehicle according to the invention is configured in such a way that at least one further optical sensor system is provided which has, on the second car, at least one further optical transmitter which is aligned with the area which is to be monitored, and has, on the first car, at least one further optical receiver, and is designed to output a further detection signal when the light path between the at least one further optical transmitter and the at least one further optical receiver is interrupted. Basically, in this context the further optical sensor system may be operated in a redundant fashion with respect to the optical sensor system, i.e. can monitor the same area between the two coupled cars. However, different component areas of the area which is to be monitored between the cars are preferably monitored by the optical sensor system and the further optical sensor system. This is advantageous, in particular, in the case of track-bound vehicles whose cars have a central coupling, since as a result a component area on the one side of the coupling can be monitored by the optical sensor system and a component area on the other side of the coupling can be monitored by the further optical sensor system. Although in this case it would basically also be possible to implement a single optical sensor system which monitors both component areas in such a way that at least one optical transmitter is provided on the first car and at least one optical receiver is provided on the second car. If an optical sensor system and a further optical sensor system are provided whose transmitters and receivers are respectively spatially offset and oriented in opposing directions, this advantageously permits, in a particularly easy way, coverage of the entire area which is to be monitored. If the respective transmitters and receivers on the cars of the rail vehicle are each correspondingly arranged at the front or at the rear, in this context the area between the cars can be monitored independently of how the cars are coupled to one another.

Generally it is to be noted at this point that the above-mentioned preferred embodiments of the track-bound vehicle according to the invention which relate to the optical sensor system also apply analogously to the further optical sensor system. This therefore relates both to an arrangement of the at least one further optical transmitter and of the least one further optical receiver at a level below the car body of the respective car as well as to the design of the further optical sensor system as an infrared sensor system. Furthermore, the preferred embodiments of the track-bound vehicle according to the invention which are described below can, insofar as they relate to the optical sensor system, also be applied analogously to the further optical sensor system which is present under certain circumstances.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, the track-bound vehicle according to the invention is developed in such a way that the at least one optical sensor system is connected to a controller device of the track-bound vehicle and is designed to transmit the detection signal to the controller device. This is advantageous since as a result the controller device, which can be, for example, a component of a central vehicle controller of the track-bound vehicle, is informed of an interruption of the light path between the at least one optical transmitter and the at least one optical receiver, with the result that corresponding measures can be taken at the vehicle. It is to be noted here that, owing to the fact that the optical sensor system is a component of the track-bound vehicle according to the invention, a direct transmission of the detection signal to the controller device is possible. In a basic contrast to this, in such monitoring systems which are mounted, for example, on the platform, direct intervention in the vehicle control of the respective vehicle when an object or a person is detected in the area which is to be monitored is not possible. According to the statements made above in this regard it is also possible for a further optical sensor system which is present, under certain circumstances, also to be advantageously connected to the controller device of the track-bound vehicle in the abovementioned way, with the result that the further detection signal can also be transmitted to the controller device.

The track-bound vehicle according to the invention can advantageously also be designed in such a way that a technical safety reaction of the track-bound vehicle is triggered at the controller device in response to the reception of the detection signal. This advantageously ensures that those measures which are necessary to avoid danger to a person falling into the area between the cars are taken directly and as quickly as possible.

The type of technical safety reaction which is triggered by the controller device depends on the design of the respective track-bound vehicle and the requirements of the respective operator. According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, the track-bound vehicle is designed in such a way that a starting prevention device or braking of the track-bound vehicle is triggered at the controller device in response to the reception of the detection signal. This is advantageous since as a result starting or continued travel of the track-bound vehicle, in particular in the area of a stopping point, is reliably prevented as quickly as possible, as a result of which a person who has possibly fallen into the area between the cars is protected as well as possible.

Alternatively, or additionally to this, the track-bound vehicle according to the invention can also be developed in such a way that, at the controller device, a warning signal is transmitted to the driver's cab and output there in response to the detection signal. Corresponding outputting can occur, for example, by means of a visual display on a driver's display and/or by means of an acoustic warning signal. This ensures that the driver or controller of the track-bound vehicle is also directly informed of the present alarm situation. At this point it is to be noted that the track-bound vehicle according to the invention can, however, basically also be designed for fully automatic driverless operation. In this case, the detection signal is preferably passed on automatically to the control point via a control channel. Irrespective of this, signaling to a passenger information system can additionally take place at the controller device, which passenger information system can then issue an announcement prepared for such a case to the passengers via internal loudspeakers and/or external loudspeakers of the track-bound vehicle.

The track-bound vehicle according to the invention is preferably developed in such a way that the monitoring of the area between coupled cars is activated or deactivated as a function of the respective operating situation of the track-bound vehicle. As a result of the fact that the monitoring of the area between the coupled cars is activated only in specific operating situations, incorrect triggering of the optical sensor system is advantageously avoided or reduced. The monitoring can therefore be activated, for example, in an operation state or in an operational time phase during which the track-bound vehicle is dispatched at a stopping point or else starts in the area of the stopping point. In contrast, in other operational situations, which may include, for example, travel through a railway switch, the monitoring may be deactivated. Such deactivation can be carried out here, for example, either by switching off the optical sensor system as well as, if appropriate, the further optical sensor system, or else by virtue of the fact that, for example, the controller device gates out detection signals in the corresponding operating situation.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, the track-bound vehicle according to the invention is designed to determine its coupling state, and the monitoring of the area between the cars is activated or deactivated as a function of the determined coupling state. Within the scope of the determination of the coupling state, the track-bound vehicle determines here at which of its couplings cars are connected to one another. The monitoring of the area between the cars is therefore expressly activated only in a case in which a car is actually coupled and therefore an area between the coupled cars which is to be monitored exists at all.

Alternatively or additionally to the two criteria specified above for activation or deactivation of the monitoring of the area between the coupled cars, the track-bound vehicle is also advantageously designed in such a way that the monitoring of the area between the cars is activated or deactivated as a function of the presence of a door release signal. It is therefore conceivable, for example, that the monitoring is activated as soon as opening of the doors is permitted by means of a door release signal after the vehicle comes to a standstill at a stopping point. The monitoring can subsequently be deactivated when, for example, the track-bound vehicle has traveled a certain distance from the stopping point.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, the track-bound vehicle is designed to perform regular automatic function checking of the at least one optical sensor system. This is advantageous since, as a result, failure of the optical sensor system can, if appropriate, be detected in close to a real time condition. For this purpose, the at least one optical transmitter can have, for example, a test input whose activation causes the optical transmitter to be switched off, with the result that all the opposite receivers signal triggering. A corresponding test can be activated and evaluated, for example, by the controller device of the track-bound vehicle in each case after the vehicle has departed from a stopping point, for example. If a fault is detected within the scope of the test, this can advantageously be displayed on the driver display.

The track-bound vehicle according to the invention basically has the advantage that the optical sensor system carries out automated monitoring of the area between the cars. Direct or indirect monitoring of the area by the driver of the track-bound vehicle or some other person is therefore advantageously not necessary. According to a further preferred embodiment of the track-bound vehicle according to the invention, in addition at least one camera which is aligned with the area between the coupled cars is provided. As a result, the possibility is therefore provided for the driver of the track-bound vehicle or for a control center, in particular in the automatic operating mode, that said driver or control center can very quickly obtain information about the situation in the affected area between the coupled cars after the reception of a detection signal by the controller device.

This provides the possibility of, if necessary, carrying out further measures in addition to technical safety reactions which are, if appropriate, brought about automatically at the track-bound vehicle.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment. In this respect, the

FIGURE shows a schematic outline of an exemplary embodiment of the track-bound vehicle according to the invention.

The FIGURE illustrates a track-bound vehicle 1 with a first car 10 and second car 20. The two cars 10, 20 are coupled to one another by means of couplings 13, 23. According to the illustration in the FIGURE it is assumed that the first car 10 is composed of car components 11 and 12, and the second car 20 is composed of car components 21 and 22. In this context, the respective car components 11, 12 and, respectively, 21, 22 are connected to one another in an uninterrupted fashion by junction means, with the result that a person who is, for example, located in an area between the car components 11, 12 or, respectively, 21, 22 at a stopping point is prevented from falling.

In contrast, an area 31, 32 in which, for example, a visually impaired person could fall under unfavorable circumstances is present between the cars 10, 20. There is the risk here that such a person who has fallen between the cars 10, 20 could be overlooked when the track-bound vehicle 1 moves off from a stopping point, and said person could therefore possibly be seriously injured. In order to be able to reliably detect such a situation, the track-bound vehicle 1, which may be, for example, a rail vehicle in the form of a local transportation train or a long-distance transportation train, subway train or a local transit system vehicle or else some other track-bound vehicle which does not travel on rails, has an optical sensor system. In this context, the optical sensor system comprises, on the first car 10, at least one optical transmitter 15 which is aligned with the area 31 which is to be monitored. Within the scope of the exemplary embodiment which is described, it is assumed that the optical transmitter 15 is a light curtain system which functions with infrared technology, i.e. an infrared light strip with infrared transmitting diodes. Correspondingly, the second car 20 has at least one optical receiver 28 in the form of an infrared reception light strip with infrared receiving diodes. This advantageously ensures complete reliable coverage of the area 31 which is to be monitored.

If the light path between the at least one optical transmitter 15 and the at least one optical receiver 28 is interrupted, a detection signal, which indicates the penetration of an object or of a person into the monitored area between the cars 10, 20, is output. In order to avoid interference influences, the at least one optical transmitter 15 and the at least one optical receiver 28 are, in terms of their mounting height, each advantageously arranged below the car body or below the lower edge of the car body of the respective car 10, 20. The mounting is advantageously carried out in such a way that the components are largely protected against damage.

According to the illustration in the FIGURE, the rail vehicle 1 also has a further optical sensor system which comprises, on the second car 20, at least one further optical transmitter 26 which is aligned with the area 32 which is to be monitored, and comprises, on the first car 10, at least one further optical receiver 17. This means that the area which is to be monitored in the exemplary embodiment of the FIGURE is divided by the couplings 13, 23 into two component areas 31, 32 which are each monitored by a separate optical sensor system. In this context, the optical sensor system and the further optical sensor system can either be embodied as completely separate systems or else as one integrated common system.

The fact that the cars 10, 20 respectively have, when viewed from a direction in front of or behind the cars 10, 20, an optical sensor 15, 16 or, respectively, 25, 26 on the left and optical receivers 17, 18 or, respectively, 27, 28 on the right, ensures that when the cars 10, 20 are coupled at least one optical transmitter 15 or, respectively, 26 of the first car 10 or, respectively, of the second car 20 is respectively arranged opposite at least one optical receiver 17 or, respectively, 28 of the second car 20 or, respectively, of the first car 10. This ensures complete monitoring of the area 31, 32 between the cars 10, 20.

As is respectively indicated in the FIGURE by a small cross, the optical transmitter 16 and the optical receiver 18 of the first car 10 is deactivated on the basis of the fact that the coupling 14 of the car 10 is in an uncoupled state. This may be detected, for example, on the basis of a mechanical and/or electrical coupling criterion and used for deactivating the at least one optical transmitter 16 and the at least one optical receiver 18. The same applies with respect to the second car 20 in relation to the at least one optical transmitter 25 and the at least one optical receiver 27, i.e. that in this case the state of the coupling 24 is evaluated and leads to deactivation of the specified components.

The monitoring can advantageously be adapted in a variable fashion to the requirements of the size and shape of the area or object which is to be monitored. A response by the interrupted light connection is detected and processed by a controller device of the vehicle control system. In this context, a selection can be made at the vehicle controller to the effect that exclusively desired operating situations or operational time phases are monitored. This relates, for example, to the dispatching of the track-bound vehicle 1 at a stopping point and the moving off in the area of the stopping point. Other operational situations or operational time phases for which monitoring of the area between the cars 10, 20 is not expedient can, on the other hand, be gated out in order to improve the interference suppression, i.e. the monitoring is deactivated.

A technical safety reaction by the track-bound vehicle 1 is triggered at the controller device of the vehicle control system or generally of a downstream logic system in response to the reception of a detection signal from the optical system which is formed from the transmitter 15 and the optical receiver 28 or, respectively, from the further optical system which is formed from the optical transmitter 26 and the optical receiver 17. Such a technical safety reaction may be, for example, braking or prevention of starting. Furthermore, the event which has occurred is advantageously indicated to the driver or to the control center in a way which requires acknowledgement, wherein various safety levels can advantageously be implemented by means of a subsequent or downstream logic evaluation.

In accordance with the statements above relating to the exemplary embodiment of the track-bound vehicle according to the invention which is illustrated in the FIGURE, this reliably permits the safety to be improved when dispatching track-bound vehicles at stopping points or stations. As a result, life-threatening consequences of accidents in which, for example, visually impaired persons fall into the area 31, 32 between the cars 10, 20, can be advantageously avoided. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A track-bound vehicle, comprising: a first car; a second car coupled to said first car; and at least one sensor device for monitoring an area between said first and second cars, said at least one sensor device being an optical sensor system having, on said first car, at least one optical transmitter aligned with said area to be monitored, and has, on said second car, at least one optical receiver, said sensor device outputting a detection signal when a light path between said at least one optical transmitter and said at least one optical receiver is interrupted.
 15. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 14, wherein in terms of a mounting height said at least one optical transmitter and said at least one optical receiver are each disposed underneath a car body of a respective one of said first and second cars.
 16. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said at least one optical sensor system is an infrared sensor system.
 17. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising at least one further optical sensor system and has, on said second car, at least one further optical transmitter which is aligned with said area which is to be monitored, and has, on said first car, at least one further optical receiver, and said further optical sensor system outputting a further detection signal when a light path between said at least one further optical transmitter and said at least one further optical receiver is interrupted.
 18. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising a controller device, said at least one optical sensor system is connected to said controller device and transmits the detection signal to said controller device.
 19. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the track-bound vehicle is configured such that a technical safety reaction of the track-bound vehicle is triggered at said controller device in response to a reception of the detection signal.
 20. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising a starting prevention device, the track-bound vehicle configured such that a said starting prevention device or braking of the track-bound vehicle is triggered at said controller device in response to the reception of the detection signal.
 21. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising a driver cab, the track-bound vehicle configured such that, at said controller device, a warning signal is transmitted to said driver cab and output there in response to the detection signal.
 22. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the track-bound vehicle is configured such that a monitoring of said area between said first and second cars is activated or deactivated in dependence on a respective operating situation of the track-bound vehicle.
 23. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the track-bound vehicle is configured to determine its coupling state, and the monitoring of said area between said first and second cars is activated or deactivated in dependence on a determined coupling state.
 24. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the track-bound vehicle is configured such that a monitoring of said area between said first and second cars is activated or deactivated in dependence on a presence of a door release signal.
 25. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the track-bound vehicle is configured to perform regular automatic function checking of said at least one optical sensor system.
 26. The track-bound vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising at least one camera which is aligned with said area between said first and second cars. 